Halesworth & Southwold Community News - October 2023

Details:

Cast members getting ready to join Halesworth's 800th birthday party.

Hoppa helps Halesworth celebrate 800 years

During the 40 plus years of its existence, the Hoppa has been called upon many times to serve the local Community in different ways. Apart from regular scheduled services, there are many community hires taking local groups far and wide in pursuit of their interests.

During the pandemic, we ferried people to and from vaccine centres and we helped run a local shopping service during the dark days of the lockdowns. And on September 2nd, we had one of our busiest days for a long time when we helped Halesworth celebrate the 800th anniversary of receiving its town charter.

With the town's birthday programme running from 10am until 3pm in Market Place and events being held across the town in Halesworth Park, the Memorial Garden and the Thoroughfare, the Hoppa was pleased to run a shuttle service ferrying people from the old middle school site at Harrisons Lane to Halesworth town centre.

Starting at 9:30am and carrying on through to 4:30pm, the Hoppa ferried 120+ people to and from the town centre, and found the bus used not only by members of the public who wanted to join in the fun, but also some of the

Halesworth's 800th anniversary celebration brings town to life!

exotically dressed cast of the various events being held around town.

At the same time, we continued to offer our regular Saturday morning service collecting people from around Halesworth and Holton to go shopping, meet friends for a coffee or visit relatives. With so much happening on one day, we needed several drivers to meet the demand and we're pleased to say our team willingly stepped up to help make sure that Halesworth town's 800th birthday celebration was a great success!

To find out more about hiring or driving the Hoppa, please contact the office at Halesworth Area Community Transport, Railway Station, Station Road, Halesworth, IP19 8BZ. You can call: 01986 875900, email: office@hactbus.co.uk or visit the website: www.hactbus.co.uk.

Finally, please remember that even though the Hoppa is a regular bus service for all, passengers can phone ahead and request a pick-up or drop-off if they have problems getting to the usual route. We may not be able to meet all requests, according to the time required, or distance from the normal route, but we will do our best.

Valerie’s

Rajputh

On Saturday, the town was alive with the colours and sounds of a medieval celebration to mark the 800th anniversary of Halesworth receiving its market charter. A reenactment of the granting of the charter from King Henry III happened in the Market Place to start the day's festivities. A medieval camp was set up in the town park and there were demonstrations of cookery, archery, weaponry and even a fashion show. People could try their hand at being a historical

scribe and learn some hand-tohand combat.

The Market Place held crafting activities and games with free face painting also on offer. A programme of musical and performing arts was held in the memorial garden, with a specially written play from Circle 67 about the characters on the Bressumer beam over the Ancient House in the Thoroughfare.

A parade from the Market Place through town took the shield banners designed by children from Edgar Sewter and

Holton St. Peter Primary Schools to the town park where they went on display for the day. The parade was led by the East Angles Brass and many people dressed in costumes joined in. A successful free park and ride from Harrison Lane operated by the HACT bus was used by over 120 people. U3A ran two popular historical Halesworth walking tours from the Market Place. Overall, the event was well attended and enjoyed including by our MP Dr. Thérèse Coffey who also took part in the parade.

Thank you message from The Christmas Lights Committee

Many thanks to those who attended our recent AGM. If you missed it, it's not too late to join our committee, the next meeting in on September 26th at 5:30pm in The Stables at the Angel.

Huge thanks too to everyone who attended our first post pandemic quiz. This was held in St. Mary's which proved to be an excellent venue and we would certainly like to use it again next year if they will have us. Thanks Rev Ginni for suggesting it. Our appreciation also goes to David

Wollwebber who set some great questions - some more challenging than others which sorted the wheat from the chaff! We raised £550 on the night which is a great boost for our funds.

To further boost funds, we're currently in the pop-up shop in the Thoroughfare selling clothes, bric-a-brac household good, toys etc, so please call in and grab a bargain. We will be open from 10am to 4pm each day from September 14th to 20th (closed Sunday).

Our next major fundraiser this year will be a Grand Draw which is currently being organised. Tickets will be available soon from committee members and various outlets in town. For further information, see our Facebook page. We may also try and squeeze in a Race Night but this is still being looked into... Keep an eye out for posters, or check our Facebook page. Finally, if it's not already in your diary, the switch-on event this year is on November 18th.

Halesworth Town Council

Halesworth Area Community Transport

Halesworth Area Sustainable Hub

Dr. Thérèse Coffey MP to join panel discussion, kickstarting Halesworth Climate Action Conference

• Conference: September 29th to October 1st.

• Exhibition: September 24th to October 2nd. The conference is an exploration of how climate change will impact Halesworth and the surrounding villages, and what we as communities and individuals can do about it: To build solutions for community resilience and adaptation to a sustainable future. A week long exhibition and a weekend of exploration,

exhibitions, conversations, talks, workshops and actions. Centred in Halesworth at St. Mary's Church and encompassing local business around.

As Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Conservative MP for Suffolk Coastal, Dr. Thérèse Coffey is an important panel member, joining other people involved in crafting national and local policy to mitigate climate change.

• Prof. Peter Hobson (Chair

of Biodiversity at Writtle University College)

• Adrian Ramsay (Co-leader of the Green Party)

• Prof. Catherine Rowett (County Councillor for West Depwade, former Member of the European Parliament for the East of England and campaigner for solar on Churches and community energy schemes)

• David Kemp (Environment Agency, Coastal Team Leader, coastal flood warning and

resilience)

• Richard Rout (SCC Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Environment)

• Josaih Meldrum (Hodmedods, pulses, grains seeds from local farms)

This 'Question Time' style panel discussion will be chaired by Martin Seeley (Lord Bishop of St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich). For more details and information, please visit: www.halesworthash.com

Halesworth Repair Café returns with a bang!

It's a busy month for the Halesworth Repair Café!

Back with a bang after a summer break, with an event at St. Mary's Church as part of the Heritage Weekend activities (electrical, sewing machine repairs and knife sharpening) as well as supporting the Climate Conference at the end of the month and, of course, the regular monthly Repair Café at the new home of The Cut, on September 26th, from 2pm-4pm.

The Repair Café started 18 months ago and meets once a month for a two-hour repair session. With the owners present (and ideally participating, with the idea that they can learn a new skill) we can tackle a range of repairs: electrical; sewing; darning; necklace restringing; general gluing/fixing; knife sharpening and sewing machines and we hold a list of professional repairers for bigger jobs or those we're not equipped for (zips, soldering etc). We've now seen over 300 items of which 240 have been successfully repaired. Even when our repairers can't fix something, we'll try to research alternatives. Faced with a doll we couldn't fix, one of the repairers looked online and found a "doll hospital" in Norwich, which resulted in a happy outcome!

We've found that, even if, ultimately, we can't fix something the owners are happy to know that they've tried their best and can now wave a fond farewell.

The Repair Café has a wonderful "feel good" factor about it. The repairers are pleased to be saving items from landfill and helping people save

money on replacement items (as well as precious resources) and (just like the BBC's Repair Shop programme) many of the items have sentimental value; a treasured gift from a grandchild; a bequeathed walking stick; a child's favourite dress, and all the volunteers enjoy hearing the stories behind the items.

The Repair Café also helps to bring communities of people together. Our collaboration with the Halesworth Men's Shed is a good example of this. We support each other and cross-refer, as well as collaborating on the recycling (via various charities) of tools, old sewing machines, rehabilitation equipment that's no longer needed, and more. There's also an opportunity to talk whilst the repair is being collaboratively undertaken. Our wonderful darner is great at engaging with range of people and providing a safe space for worries to be shared.

A network of expertise, and an understanding that things can be fixed rather than thrown, is being built across our patch of North Suffolk (indeed, across the whole county) courtesy of an appearance on BBC Suffolk's Takeover Tuesday programme when our team joined presenter Jon Wright for two hours to talk about the Repair Café movement!

Our team of volunteers numbers 20+, with about a dozen needed to run each monthly café. We have all found it very rewarding , fun, sociable and fascinating and have introduced a "Repair Café Stories" notebook for users to record the tales behind

the items, and have, on occasion, been moved to tears!

It's great to know that we're part of the wider international Repair Café movement, which started in Amsterdam in 2009 and now boasts 2,753 Repair Cafés across the world, with 49,554 repairs per month and 41,295 volunteers. There's an opportunity through this international collaboration to collect data in order to apply pressure on manufacturers to build things with a longer life-span and an ability to easily repair, something that has become increasingly important as we wake up to the need to live more lightly on this planet.

Interested in setting up your own Repair Café? We always welcome visitors, and you'll find plenty of helpful info, as well as access to the Repair Café Handbook, on the UK website: www. repaircafé.org/en. You'll find it very easy, as well as surprisingly rewarding!

Halesworth Repair Café is held at The Cut Arts Centre, New Cut, Halesworth, IP19 8BY on Tuesday September 26th, from 2pm-4pm as well as Saturday October 21st from 10am to midday and Tuesday November 28th, from 2pm-4pm. You can read more about Halesworth Repair Café on their website: www.halesworthrepair cafe.wordpress.com

Probably the best selection of Rollators & Walkers in Suffolk

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Halesworth Harmony

Halesworth Harmony is actively seeking more members to join us to learn a new programme of songs for a concert next year.

The theme of the concert is "Songs of Hope and Struggle" and it will include songs commissioned as part of a Black Lives Matter project.

Rehearsals are on Sundays

at The Cut, from 10:30am12:30pm. Dates for the autumn term are September 24th, October 1st, October 22nd (10:30am4pm), November 5th and 19th, December 3rd and 10th. For further details or to express an interest in joining the choir, please email: halesworth.harmony@gmail.com

Halesworth Millennium Green

& TRY

COME

YOUBEFORE BUY!

- Eating & drinking aids

- Help to get you out & about

01986 873803 shop@rehability.co.uk • www.rehability.co.uk

For mobility aids for daily living, visit our shop:

7 Bridge Street, Halesworth, IP19 8AB (Opposite the Library)

Independent Living Centre & Showhome at: Bridge Farm, Chediston, IP19 0AE (2 miles west of Halesworth)

Why not use a tractor on the Green?

News from Halesworth & District Gardeners' Society

This year's Annual Flower Show held at the Rifle Hall was one of the best ever in terms of attendance and an increase in exhibits. Thank you to all those who took part or attended. The future of the show is looking very bright. Special mention must go to Yvonne Eady (Show Organiser) for all her much-appreciated enthusiasm and hard work.

• 22, 23: M Shiers.

• 31: E Maulden.

Flower Arrangements:

• 35, 36, 39: Y Eady.

• 37, 38: J Crabb.

Homemade Produce:

• 40, 41: M Shiers.

• 42, 45, 51: D Evans.

• 43, 44: J Crabb.

• 47: K Batton-Phelps.

Blyth Road Industrial Estate, Halesworth, IP19 8EN

So although we don't use scythes (unless you'd really like a go at that), we do use the next most flexible and wildlifefriendly option... That is, small slow mowers followed by a team of rakers. It can be hot but it's very rewarding work, we're always amazed at how much we achieve each week.

Manufacturers & Suppliers of Agricultural, Domestic and Industrial Fencing products to both the trade and public covering Norfolk & Suffolk

Handmade Fence Panels (metric & imperial sizing) Trellis

With White Bridge closed, we meet at Arthur's Wood gate which is a very short way down the track off Quay Street just before the railway bridge. During the hot weather, we're meeting earlier, at 9am (not 9:30am).

Palisade Fencing Drive & Field Gates Galvanised Hardware

Manufacturers & Suppliers of Agricultural, Domestic

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The results of the 45th annual show are as follows:

• Championship Cup, Horticultural Society Tankard: A Goodchild.

• Jennifer Dickson Cup, Horticultural Society Cup, Milner Gibson Trophy: Y Eady.

• Stanley Felgate Rose Bowl: J Crabb.

• Scrimgeour Cup, Bynum Shield, Doughboy Shield: D Evans.

• High Field Cup: E Maulden.

• Daisy May Shield: M Shiers.

• 48: Y Eady.

• 49, 50: A Witherby.

Photography:

• 52: M Medhurst.

• 53: K Batton-Phelps.

• 54: E Maulden.

Our next meeting will be on November 9th at the Rifle Hall, London Road, Halesworth with George from George's Gorgeous Gardens The Plant Shop, based at Earsham Hall.

Blyth Road Industrial Estate, Halesworth, IP19 8EN

• Charlotte Rose Shield: F Fletcher.

Vegetables Classes:

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 20: A Goodchild.

Blyth Road Industrial Estate,

Homegrown Pressure Treated Posts and Gate Posts

Don't forget! Now is the best time to go scrumping in the Community Orchard. Pears and apples falling to the ground. For more information, you can email the Green on: thegreen@halesworth.net.

Closeboard Fencing Components: Feather Edge, Cant Rails, Gravel Boards and Rebated Capping

As the Green volunteers cut the hay with our small mowers and rake it off, we're often asked "Why don't you use a tractor? Why rake the hay off?" There are quite a few reasons. We have tried with a tractor. The kind of tractor that our wet ground can support carries the cutting equipment behind (not in front like a combine harvester). This means that the long grass is partly crushed down by the tractor before the cutters reach it, so the cutting is not efficient and raking off is unbelievably hard. Why not cut it earlier when the hay is less matted? Because the wildflowers haven't finished seeding. Why rake off what we've cut, why not just let it lie? Because wild flowers need "poor" soil, and rotting hay and vegetation put nutrients back into the ground which wildflowers don't like.

• 9, 10: A Witherby.

• 15, 16, 18: Y Eady.

Manufacturers & Suppliers of Agricultural, Domestic and Industrial Fencing products to both the trade and public covering Norfolk & Suffolk

• 21: J Crabb.

• 17: F Fletcher.

• 13, 14: M Shiers.

Flowers:

Over the last 20 years, he has worked as a garden designer, landscaper and plantsman both for local firms and a company in Chelsea. He will be doing a demo on making Kokedama balls (moss balls containing plants, in case you were wondering) described as Japan's answer to the hanging basket.

Everyone is very welcome.

the trade and public covering Norfolk & Suffolk

Handtools Post & Rail Cladding Livestock Fencing

C24 Grade Timber Sleepers & Decking Wire Netting

Sheet Material: OSB & Plywood Machine Round Stakes

Tractors move too quickly for small animals to get out of the way. At our last work-party, we rescued a toad and several harvest mouse nests - a tractor driver simply can't see small animals quickly enough.

• 28, 29: B Hammond.

• 26: A Goodchild.

• 32, 33: Y Eady.

• 23, 24, 30, 34: J Crabb.

Handmade Fence Panels (metric & imperial sizing) Trellis Palisade Fencing Drive & Field Gates Galvanised Hardware

• 25: M Wilson.

• 27: F Fletcher.

Homegrown Pressure Treated Posts and Gate Posts

Concrete Products: Slotted Posts & Gravel Boards

Handmade Fence Panels (metric & imperial sizing) Trellis

01986 892810

Palisade Fencing Drive & Field Gates Galvanised Hardware

Closeboard Fencing Components: Feather Edge, Cant Rails, Gravel Boards and Rebated Capping

info@goldstarfencingandgates.co.uk | www.goldstarfencingandgates.co.uk

Homegrown Pressure Treated Posts and Gate Posts

Closeboard Fencing Components: Feather Edge, Cant Rails, Gravel Boards and Rebated Capping

Handtools Post & Rail Cladding Livestock Fencing

C24 Grade Timber Sleepers & Decking Wire Netting

Sheet Material: OSB & Plywood Machine Round Stakes

Handtools Post & Rail Cladding Livestock Fencing

C24 Grade Timber Sleepers & Decking Wire Netting

Sheet Material: OSB & Plywood Machine Round Stakes

Concrete Products: Slotted Posts & Gravel Boards

01986 892810

Doors open at 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start. For non-members, there is a £2 entry fee. For further information, phone our Club Secretary Brian Hammond on 01986 872712. Details of events can also be found on our Facebook page or on the notice board outside Coopers.

07818 568435

harry@agrifencesuffolk.co.uk

info@goldstarfencingandgates.co.uk | www.goldstarfencingandgates.co.uk

Concrete Products: Slotted Posts & Gravel Boards

01986 892810

mowing and raking

Wayne

M.DANIELS

For control of rats, mice, moles, squirrels, cluster flies, fleas, ants & wasps

MOBILE: 07788850762

TONY LING

NICK ROUSE

News from The Pear Tree Fund and Dee's Den Charity Shop

The Pear Tree Centre in Halesworth continues to offer support, information, counselling, complementary therapies and benefits advice to anyone who has been diagnosed with a life-changing illness, their families/carers and those who have been bereaved.

If you're interested in accessing our services, you're welcome to drop in and speak with a member of staff or contact us via email or phone. We also work alongside the statutory and voluntary sector to help provide extra equipment and enhanced care in the last days of life. Our aim is to offer emotional, physical and practical support to meet the individual needs of the person and their family, and to give them a choice of where they receive their care as they near the end of their life.

The team at the centre are also able to support young people aged between 12-18 who are dealing with their own or a family member's life-changing diagnosis or who are coping with bereavement. As well as this, we work alongside schools and other statutory and voluntary services, whilst providing one-toone and family support as well as counselling and group therapy.

On September 1st, we held

our annual charity golf day at Halesworth Golf Club, raising nearly £9,000. Many thanks to Rob Sherington, all the team at Halesworth Golf Club and our army of faithful volunteers, who despite the weather made it an excellent day. A massive thank you also to Ted Edwards for organising another successful day. Many thanks this month go to Joy Ayers for raising another £283 for us at her Joys Junk stall on Laxfield Market and to Mr. Withnall for his kind monthly donation.

Still to come in our calendar:

• September 16th and 17th: Henham Steam Rally.

• October 18th to 25th: Annual pop-up shop at iChameleon, Halesworth Thoroughfare.

• December 14th: Coffee Morning at Holton Village Hall.

Following the success of our 'Hopes and Dreams Project' (a reminiscence project for people with dementia and their carers), we're running another group starting in the new year. Over nine sessions, you will explore your lives from childhood to the present day with fun, music, laughter and new friendships along the way. At the end of the project, you'll have made a book about your lives to enjoy and

share with your family. If you're interested in joining this group, please contact The Pear Tree Centre for further information.

Dee's Den charity shop news:

We have lots of bargains available in the Den. We have reduced our summer wear to giveaway prices! On Tuesdays in September and October, we have 'bargain day' where all items will be half price!

We will be bringing out our Autumn range over the next few weeks as we expect the weather to cool down. Located outside (if the weather is dry) we have a £1 clothes rail of reduced items, a 50p rail of children's clothes, a bargain basket of bits and pieces, and a box of reduced-priced books.

You are all welcome at Dee's Den to come in and browse for that special bargain! We're open Monday and Thursday 10am-1pm; Tuesday, Friday and Saturday open until 2pm and on market day Wednesday, we are open until 3pm, until October 1st, then back to 2pm.

Come and take a look! There are clothes for all ages, shoes, and accessories, jewellery, belts etc. Lots of games, jigsaws, toys and books galore, bedding,

curtains, bric-a-brac, glassware, kitchenware, pictures, photo frames, plants, homemade jam and marmalade, thank you Jenny and Anne.

We welcome donations of clean saleable items of clothes, bric-a-brac, toys, games, small pieces of furniture etc. Small amounts of donations can be dropped off at the shop when we are open. If there are lots of donations, please deliver on a Monday or Thursday morning to the sorting end of the shop where we have extra volunteers on duty. If you are unable to deliver, we can collect.

We have an amazing team of willing volunteers who work in the shop, donating their time to the charity. If you're interested in volunteering do call in and leave your number, so we can get in touch with you. To contact Dee's Den, please phone Nikki 07733 668221.

If you're interested in receiving our monthly newsletter, which includes a diary of upcoming events and information about how the money raised for us is used, please visit: www.peartreefund. org to sign up. To contact The Pear Tree Centre, email: info@ peartreefund.org or call: 01986 899655.

Record numbers attend Wenhaston Bowls Clubs annual tournament!

On August 13th, Wenhaston Bowls Club held their annual open triples tournament. This year's event was run by club Chairman Tom Daly and received a record number of entries, that of 32 teams. The day was wellattended with visiting friends and family with roughly 120 plus persons present.

Tom Daly said "This was the biggest turn out we've had and it was a splendid day on a fantastic green. I wish to thank all of those who helped out the day before and the day of the tournament in a wide variety of roles and this would not have done so well without your help and those of your family. I also thank those

who baked, bought and served the BBQ and food. I thank all those who supplied raffle prizes, who sold the tickets and I thank those who helped clean up when the event was finished."

To see more images from the day and weekly updates from the club please visit: www.wenhastonbowlsclub.com

Blyth Valley Parkinson's Support Group

We continue to welcome new and old members of the support group with a varied programme of talks and events. Over the summer, we had a very productive meeting to discover what members would like from the group in terms of support and interest in the future.

We also enjoyed a lovely sunny afternoon in a member's garden

drinking tea and lots of cake. In September, we have a talk on tortoises. In October, we have a talk by a member of Norfolk Community Health on Parkinson's research. In November, we will be trying our hands at Nordic walking. Please do get in touch or come along to our meetings if you either have Parkinson's, or

are a carer for someone who has the disease.

We meet every second Thursday of the month at Holton Village Hall at 10:30am. You can be sure of a warm welcome, support and friendship. For further information please contact either Gail (01986 872283) or Margaret (01502 478502).

Chairman Tom Daly presenting the winners: Ray Neal, Peter Hurren and Malcolm Napthine with the shield.

UBBESTON LODGE SWIMMING POOL

UBBESTON LODGE SWIMMING POOL

Looking to keep fit or have some fun family time?

Looking to keep fit or have some fun family time?

• Indoor Pool heated all year round

• Indoor poolHeated all year round

The U3A celebrate Halesworth 800

• Exclusive use for groups of up to 8

• Exclusive use for groups of up to 6

• Private Changing Rooms - equipped with loos, showers and hair dryers

Halesworth Produce Market celebrate 20th anniversary!

Halesworth and District U3A have been enjoying Super September!

• Private changing rooms equipped with toilets and showers

• Underfloor heating throughout

• Playpen

• Underfloor heating throughout

Please email or call for availability and further details: pool@ubbestonlodge.co.uk or 01986 799 007

Please view the website for availability, booking, and further details: pool@ubbestonlodge.co.uk www.ubbestonlodge.co.uk

2023 marks 20 years of Halesworth Produce Market!

(off the B1117 in Ubbeston, near Laxfield)

01986 799 007

(off the B1117 in Ubbeston, near Laxfield)

The market started off in October 2003 in the Old Ukon building next to Horse and Garden. We were then sadly told that we had to move out for re-development, which led to a brief spell where we were based at Holton Village Hall. We then moved back into town into the Old Print Works where we were

for several years until being told again that re-development was to take place. To keep the popular market going, the only other venue in town large enough to accommodate us was the Rifle Hall, which is where you can find us now for all your locally grown and made produce.

If you haven't yet paid us a visit, we are at the Rifle Hall on the second Saturday of every month from February through to December. Our Christmas Market has live music and lots of delicious Christmas Fayre. Take a moment to enjoy a cup of fresh coffee with a free slice of Celebration Cake, browse the range of produce and chat to the stallholders.

See you on Saturday!

Our displays of "Then and Now" photographs of businesses in the town brought back memories for passers-by both local and visiting the town.

The photos were gathered from the extensive collection at the Halesworth Museum. We were very pleased that so many people were able to share reminiscences with us and put names and dates to some of the photos on display.

The two walks the U3A Local History Group led along Chediston Street for Halesworth 800 on Saturday were very popular with over 40 people joining each walk. In the meantime, the U3A Ukelele Group gave a concert in the Memorial Gardens which was appreciated by an enthusiastic audience.

A big thank you to the festival organisers and to everyone who joined a walk or visited our stall in the Thoroughfare. It was an excellent day.

Our next meeting will be at The Cut Arts Centre on October 17th, starting at approximately 2:30pm. Gail Sprake will be telling us about the work of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. This is a conservation charity whose purpose is to secure the continued existence and viability of the native farm animal genetic resources of the UK. It was founded in 1973 by Joe Henson to preserve native breeds including the Suffolk Horse. Since then, no UK-native breed has become extinct.

The event at The Cut is free to our U3A members, guests are very welcome to come along on payment of £4 for a guest ticket at The Cut Box Office. This talk will be preceded by our AGM starting at 2pm, to which all members are cordially invited.

There's always something interesting to do with Halesworth and District U3A. More information about membership: www.u3asites.org.uk/halesworth/ welcome.

U3A historic photograph display in the Thoroughfare.

Creating ramps and tracks

Update from Ringsfield, Brampton and Bramfield Schools

All the new reception children at our association of primary schools have been busy settling into their new classrooms, getting to know their teachers and their new classmates and exploring all the different areas for learning.

All three of our settings at Bramfield, Brampton and Ringsfield have lovely big outdoor environments attached to our indoor areas which the children have free access to throughout the day.

At Bramfield, the children have been exploring the possibilities of

Bright Stars

the big construction resources, using planks and stands to make tracks and ramps for vehicles. This sort of play helps build communication and language skills as the children plan and negotiate, sharing ideas and problem solving together.

At Ringsfield, the children have been exploring our mud kitchen to create all sorts of wonderful recipes. This play allows them to apply their own real life experiences and use their imagination. They are also communicating with their peers to develop their ideas together.

Would you like to receive our free activity sheets for pre-school aged children?

At the moment, we're sending out free activity sheets by email/post on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month during term time, for children to enjoy doing with their family/ carers, instead of meeting in St. Michaels Church Centre, Martlesham Heath.

The activity sheets usually include a story, song and a craft

or game about a theme or story from the Bible.

If you have or look after a child/children of pre-school age and would like to receive our sheets, please give us a call on the phone number below. We look forward to hearing from you!

For further information, please contact Sonya and Maureen Burrows on: 01473 625196.

At Brampton, the children have shown a keen interest in our creation station area. They have been using scissors and glue to cut and stick materials onto their work and they have been enhancing their ideas through discussion with their peers and the adults in the class. Using scissors also helps to develop their fine motor skills ready for drawing and writing.

Bramfield Stepping Stones Pre-School

Bramfield Stepping Stones offers care and early years education to children aged two to five years. We are open five days a week 9:15am-3:15pm with Breakfast Club and Out of School facilities available from 7:45am to 5:30pm.

Bramfield Pre-School

Places still available!

• Children welcome from age 2 and above

• Morning, afternoon and all-day sessions available Monday –Friday 9:15am – 3:15pm

• Breakfast club 7:45am-9:15am

• After school club 3:15pm-6:00pm. (Please check availability)

• 2 year old & 30-hour funding available for eligible families

• Ofsted rated ‘GOOD’

• Helping children transition smoothly into ALL local primary school settings

Please look at our website for more information or give us a call or email to arrange a visit!

annaandcraig@bramfieldpreschool.co.uk www.bramfieldpreschool.co.uk

01986 784 586 198173

We are looking forward to another wonderful year of learning together.

Edgar Sewter Play School and Out of School Club

Our Playschool has welcomed new children this term and they have settled in really well. We are open Monday to Friday during term time for children from two to three years old offering both funded and non-funded places.

'Breakfast Club' from 8am and 'After School Club' from 3:30pm6pm is open for children from four years from Edgar Sewter School. Our 'Summer Holiday

198142

Club' provided lots of fun and friendships for children from many local schools and we are planning October half term so book early.

Please email: esplayschool@ gmail.com or phone: 07796 044277 to book a place or register for Playschool, Breakfast, After School Club or October half term. Hayley, Anthea, Yvonne and Stacey

In our last Ofsted inspection we were awarded 'Good' in all areas. The report stated: "Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to achieving excellence in all areas" and "are committed providing to a high-quality experience for all children." "Children feel safe and secure in their relationships

with staff. They develop close emotional attachments, confidently seeking out staff for reassurance and to share in their play."

We welcome children at all stages of development, including those in nappies, and from the Halesworth area and beyond.

All children are entitled to 15-hours of funding per week of government funding in the term following their third birthday. 30-hour funding and two year funding is also available for families meeting certain financial criteria.

We currently have spaces

available. For further details call 01986 784586 or email: annaandcraig@ bramfieldpreschool.co.uk. Please see also feel free to look at our website: www.bramfieldpreschool.co.uk

Holton St. Peter Primary School

(Bungay Road, Holton, Halesworth, IP19 8PL) is a thriving school where all pupils are nurtured. Our priority is to develop life-long learners. Our new purpose built nursery is due to open in January 2024 so whether you are looking for a school or nursery place for your child/ children, please do come along on Wednesday 27th September at 9:30am for our school tour.

01986 872297 office@holtonstpeterschool.co.uk

Our focus is to deliver highly engaging lessons and provide students with the care and guidance that allows them to succeed. Our students tell us they value the way lessons are delivered and the strong relationships that exist in school between students and staff. This is only possible because of our small size and our belief and confidence in every student as an individual.

Open morning drop in sessions week commencing 9th October 8:30am-11:00am.

An invitation to our OPEN EVENING

Thursday 28th September

5:45pm - 7:15pm & 7pm - 8:30pm

Headteacher presentations at 5:45pm & 7pm

A visit to our exciting school is a brilliant way to make an informed and important decision about your child’s future. Join us on September 28th for tours across the site, including interactive activities and experiences and the opportunity to speak to staff and students about life at Bungay High School as well as meeting the Headteacher, Chanel Oswick.

To visit during the day on one of our School Day Tours below, please email Rachel Blake: rblake@bungayhigh.co.uk or call 01986 891642 / 01986 892140 to arrange. Although these will be limited, we will endeavour to do our best to make alternative arrangements for you.

School Day Tours (All dates are 9:15am - 10am)

• Tue 19th Sept

• Fri 22nd Sept

• Mon 25th Sept

• Wed 27th Sept

198091

Was your child born between September 1st 2019 & August 30th 2020?

Are you applying for a Primary School place this year?

Come to our fun-filled Forest School

‘Stay & Play’ open morning on Wednesday 27th September!

• This will give you and your child/children a chance to meet the Reception staff and have a look around the school… The session will run from 9am-11:30am but arrival and departure is flexible.

• Come dressed in outdoor clothes suitable for ALL weathers.

ALL children MUST be accompanied by an adult. Please ring or email the school office to book.

01502 478328

admin@wenhastonprimary.co.uk

• Mon 2nd Oct

• Fri 6th Oct

• Wed 11th Oct

OPEN DAYS

Primary 18th October & 5th December 2023

Secondary 25th & 26th September 2023

OPEN EVENING

Secondary 21st September 2023 at 6pm

The Harleston Sancroft Academy is a community that flourishes through God’s love. To live life in all its fullness. (John 10:10 and John 13:34) We are a foundation of hope. A family of love. A school of nurture, guided by faith. Promoting a unique, personalised journey towards excellence.

198055

01379 852561

198117

The creation station

The mud kitchen

HOOKER HOUSE

DENTAL PRACTICE

Update from the Halesworth Cancer Research UK branch

Quay Street, Halesworth 01986 872113

When I woke up on September 1st to see a very wet day, I thought our 'Maze by Torchlight' event at The Old Hall Café Southwold would be a washout, but far from it. The evening turned out to be beautiful and warm and we had a fantastic time. The staff at The Old Hall were brilliant and we can't thank them enough for hosting this event. The young people who were working that night were so polite and helpful, fetching and carrying for us, they certainly were a credit to themselves and The Old Hall. Thank you to the kitchen ladies. I don't think I have ever seen such huge hotdogs and the bacon baps were delicious. Special thanks to Bella and Emily for organising this event and so very generously donating all the entrance money to us at the Halesworth branch. Our committee members and volunteers ran some stalls and the fun games were very popular with family members getting

very competitive with each other to see who would win.

We would also like to thank Lowestoft Lions for lending us their games and John for transporting them.

A big thank you to everyone who came and enjoyed the magical experience. I hope there will be some photos in the next edition of The Community News and I will be able to let you know how much the event raised.

October events:

• Tuesday 3rd at 6:30pm in Wenhaston Village Hall, Wenhaston Flower Club are holding a "Charity Night" for us. You don't have to belong to the flower club, the night is for everyone, so come and enjoy a cup of tea and delicious cake and a chat with friends and neighbours. Cancer Research Christmas cards will be on sale

and there will be various stalls, including Jane Bastow with her wonderful plants, tombola, crafts, cakes etc.

• Saturday 14th is our everpopular Jumble Sale in Holton Village Hall from 10am-12pm. We will be serving teas/coffee and as usual delicious cakes. We will have our usual good as new clothes, bric-a-brac, books, household linens etc. (Please see our advert on page 15). Please note: We are very sorry for any inconvenience but all our events are cash only as we don't have access to a card machine. Christmas Cards & Diaries: We have a wonderful selection this year and if you are one of Nina's regular customers, she will be selling them again so please get in touch with her. The cards will also be available at the Jumble Sale and Christmas Fair in November. For more information, please contact Dawn Davis on 01986 873640.

Halesworth WI news

Our August indoor garden party went with a swing! On a very hot day, the cool of the Rifle Hall was much appreciated. Members enjoyed an opportunity to chat, share lovely food from the buffet table accompanied by non-alcoholic punch or cups of tea. The games and quiz were enthusiastically entered into. We all agreed that it was a very successful afternoon. We can now look forward to county events in October, a Literary Lunch and an Autumn meeting at High Lodge, Darsham, both with good speakers.

Our next meetings see us back at the Stables, the Angel Hotel for a cookery demonstration and also the WI Kurling afternoon at the Rifle Hall.

Had it not been for the heatwave we had in the first week of September, many of us would still be waiting for summer to arrive. However, we find ourselves in mid-September and as we move through autumn, we start to think about Christmas and all that comes with it.

One of the best things about this time of year has to be the opportunity to get together with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues and enjoy some good food (and a glass or two of your favourite tipple).

Throughout December, local pubs, restaurants, cafes and hotels will be running festive menus, special dishes and themed nights, giving us all an excuse to

get your group together and have a night out.

We are fortunate to have lots of great establishments in our area so you will not be short of places to go where you can enjoy great food and drink and proper hospitality. So, have a look at the businesses on these pages over the next couple of months and book early to ensure you get the date and time you want. This is especially important for larger groups. So, start having those conversation with your friends and family and whether you are booking your favourite pub or fancy trying a new restaurant.

It's never too early to start planning your season for festive celebrations!

Rumburgh Buck

Mill Road, Rumburgh, Halesworth IP19 0NT

Pre-booked 2-Course Christmas Lunch Special including mince pie & coffee £19.50

Served Tuesday, Thursday & Friday lunchtimes during December.

Christmas Party full menu also available throughout December. Please phone to book:

01986 785257 rumburghbuck.co.uk

Festive Food Menu

Curried parsnip soup, croutons, herb oil

- December 1st to 24th

- Bookings only

- Pre-orders required

- 2 courses £28.50 pp

- 3 courses £30 pp

Ham hock and parsley terrine, apple & sultana chutney, dressed leaves, crostini

Smoked salmon, celeriac remoulade, capers, watercress, lemon

Grilled goats cheese, beetroot, walnut & rocket salad, balsamic dressing

Traditional roast turkey, pigs in blankets, stu�fing, roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, gravy

Braised beef shoulder steak, horseradish mash, kale, pancetta, baby onions, mushrooms, red wine syrup

Pan-fried halibut, Parmesan potato gratin, roast cauli�lower, caper & raisin puree, parsley & pine nut pesto

Roasted Jerusalem artichoke and pearl barley risotto, wild mushrooms, crispy greens, roasted garlic aioli

Christmas pudding, vanilla custard, brandy ice-cream

Iced white chocolate parfait, poached satsuma, oat granola, chocolate syrup

Apple & pear frangipane tart, toasted almond cream, caramel syrup

Selection of British cheeses, crackers, grapes, chutney, membrillo

New Years Eve Quiz

Saturday 31st December - £21.50 pp

Join your hosts Jenny & Wayne for our fun quiz of the year! Enjoy a delicious anti-pasto platter (selection of cold, cured meats, char-grilled, marinaded vegetables, stu�fed peppers, pickles, bread) Bonus team games, half-time competitions and reverse ra��le.

The

01502 723603

reception@therandolph.co.uk • www.therandolph.co.uk

To advertise on our Festive Dining pages in next month’s edition of the Community News, please contact one of the team to reserve your space.

The November papers will be published October 20th with the deadline being October 11th, so there's plenty of time to get your festive menu sorted and shared with our readers.

As well as being read by thousands of local people through our printed, delivered copies, our newspapers will also be available to view digitally and will be posted on our social media channels.

To find out more and reserve your space please contact:

• Karen Taylor on 01502 725836 or karen.taylor@micropress.co.uk

• Kasey Turner on 01502 725801 or kasey.turner@micropress.co.uk

broughtto you by

Badminton in Kesgrave

Woodbridge Badminton Club is back at Kesgrave High School for the winter season (September-April).

Halesworth Scarecrow Festival & Treasure Trail

FRIGHT TIME! The annual Scarecrow Festival in Halesworth is taking place from October 14th to 28th. Local shops and businesses will again be competing to produce the most eye catching and imaginative scarecrow. It's a must-do event for October half-term! Scarecrows will be displayed up and down the Thoroughfare, around the Market Place, in and past the church and back to Angel Link.

businesses. Those with all the correct answers go into a prize draw with a £50 cash prize from donations from local businesses. There will also be prizes for runners up. Entry forms for either trail cost £1 and will be available from Hetty's Little Copy Shop, Halesworth Bookshop, and Halesworth Library, all situated in the Thoroughfare. All monies raised will go towards the fund for Halesworth Christmas Lights.

Westhall's Apple & Pumpkin Festival

Westhall's Apple & Pumpkin

Festival returns on October 7th at the Village Hall, outside on the Green and at The Racehorse Pub, from 2pm.

Celebrate all things apple and pumpkin related, pressing apples on Professor Scratterbrain's

amazing cycle powered press, choosing from a mouth-watering range of apples from a local orchard, squashes and pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and colours as well as amazing sourdough bread and treats from our local artisan baker!

Quizzes, bowling with pumpkins, guessing the weight of the pumpkin, prizes for the heaviest pumpkins (bring yours

Goosegreen

along!) and traditional country games including people-pullinga-tractor, welly wanging, splatthe-rat, the ever-popular human fruit machine, the "digger game" and more, plus face painting, craft stalls, a tractor display and great music (including an opportunity to Wassail) and great refreshments throughout the afternoon. A community event for everyone!

Goosegreen East, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9RL Tel. 07771 882613 / 01502 715728

Public Open Days

Thurs 28th, Fri 29th & Sat 30th September, 9am - 5pm

Entrance donations in aid of: East Anglian Air Ambulance

Registered Charity No - 1083876

Massive range of plants to buy! (Card&Cashaccepted)

Refreshments available (Cashonly)

www.goosegreennurseries.co.uk

email: info@goosegreennurseries.co.uk 197680

Who will be crowned overall winner? Well, it's up to the children of Halesworth and the surrounding villages to decide who will win the highly acclaimed award of best scarecrow in town!

There will also be three Treasure Trails available for children (of all ages!) Shops and businesses around the centre of town will have letters hidden in their windows which put together make up words that fit into a Halloween theme.

This year, we are also introduced a hunt the witch for younger children, who need to find 10 numbered witches in the windows of shops and

There will also be more children's crafts and activities happening throughout town. Such as scarecrow making and crafts in the library, pumpkin carving in the thoroughfare and 10-minute craft sessions at Purple Pumpkin Studio. Donations are welcome from these crafts towards the Halesworth Christmas Lights but are not essential to taking part.

The children's Scarecrows made in the library (or at home if you wish) will be displayed at St. Mary's Church with children's names and ages, and there will be a voting station to vote for your favourite child's scarecrow, with the chance to win a £10 gift voucher for the toy shop.

Adult Club Night is 7:30pm to 10pm on Wednesday evenings and Juniors is 7pm to 8:30pm on Mondays.

Adults can come along for a guest session for £6 to try us out. This is refundable if you join as a member.

We welcome a range of abilities but unfortunately not complete beginners at the adult club.

Juniors should always book in advance as we are often full.

For the latest details, visit: www.woodbridgebadminton. co.uk, email: contact@ woodbridgebadminton.co.uk or ring Jim Cavanagh on: 01728 723900.

Balti Chicken

Vindaloo

As featured in Places & Faces

Magazine. To subscribe to

Places&Faces (THE luxury lifestyle magazine for Norfolk & Suffolk) delivered straight to your door, visit their website: www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Recipe by Russell Stretch

This was the first curry I cooked and the beauty of this is, once you have these spices on your shelf, you can turn your hand to most curry recipes. Don't be scared by the 'Vindaloo' in the title, it isn't scarily spicy (unless you want it to be) it's merely referring to the fact that vinegar is added to the spices, to enhance their flavours. Also, this is technically a 'dry' curry as this recipe stands, but if you want a sauce, just add tinned tomatoes or coconut milk (or both) at the end, and leave it to simmer for 30 minutes.

Ingredients: Serves 4

• 2 tsp coriander seeds.

• 2 tsp cumin seeds.

• 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds.

• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds.

• 1 cinnamon stick.

• 3 whole cloves.

• 1 tsp peppercorns.

• 3 tbsp desiccated coconut.

• 3 tbsp unsalted peanuts.

• 6 tbsp vinegar (any type is fine).

• 2 garlic cloves (crushed).

• 1 thumb sized knob of fresh ginger (grated).

• 1/2 tsp turmeric.

• 2 tsp mild chilli powder.

• 2 tsp salt.

• 4-5 skinless chicken breast fillets (trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces).

• Vegetable oil.

• Small handful of fresh curry leaves.

• 1 tsp cumin seeds.

Method:

- Dry roast (in a small frying pan) the coriander, cumin, fenugreek, mustard seeds, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, coconut and peanuts until toasty and aromatic (keep an eye on the coconut as that will tend to brown first).

- Crush or grind the mixture and combine with the vinegar, garlic, ginger, turmeric, chilli powder, salt and a splash of oil.

- Place the chicken in a nonmetallic dish (or a ziploc bag works too) and pour over the marinade. Stir and leave overnight to marinade.

- Heat some vegetable oil in a large frying pan or wok and add the curry leaves and cumin seeds.

- Cook for about 10-15 seconds (or until the seeds start to 'pop' and add the marinated chicken (and the marinade), fry for about 15 minutes, turning the chicken regularly.

- Cover and continue cooking for 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tender.

- If you fancy a sauce, now's the time to follow the tip above.

Done!

Are you interested in family or local history? Do you want to date your old family photos?

Then come along to the Fromus Centre, Street Farm Road, Saxmundham IP17 1AL (behind the Library) on October 7th, from 11am to 4pm, where the Alde Valley Suffolk Family History Group will be hosting a special Open Day.

There will be a special display about the Leiston Grammar School Wartime Roll of Honour, and information about the Halesworth War Memorial with details of the Halesworth war dead, as well as information about other local war memorials.

Have you got any old family photos that you can't put a date to? Bring them along and let our expert advise you. Several local

Wenhaston Flower Club

Our September meeting was unfortunately not as advertised but we were extremely happy to welcome back Susan Green who stepped in at the last minute.

organisations will be represented, including:

• Benhall & Sternfield History Group

• Martlesham Heath Aviation Society

• Saxmundham & District Local History Group

• Saxmundham Museum

• Yoxford History Group

Experienced family history researchers will be on hand to give help and advice in tracing your ancestors.

Admission is free but donations are welcome. There will be light refreshments and there is good, free car parking. For more information, visit: www.avsfhg.org.uk

Susan has visited us many times and it's always a pleasure to see her. This time, she visited for a workshop demonstrating how to make a hand-tied bouquet.

Our next meeting on October 3rd is our Charity Night for The Halesworth Branch of Cancer Research in Wenhaston Village Hall at 6:30pm.

You don't have to belong to the flower club, the night is for everyone, so come and enjoy a

cup of tea and delicious cake and a chat with friends and neighbours. Cancer Research Christmas cards will be on sale and there will be various stalls, including Jane Bastow with her wonderful plants, tombola, crafts, cakes, raffle etc.

Please come along and support the work of this vital charity, every penny raised really will make a difference helping to fund new and better treatments for people receiving a cancer diagnosis.

If you'd like to donate cakes, tombola or raffle prizes or for more information, please call Jackie Chenery on: 01502 478401.

Susan with her bouquet

A very busy summer at Halesworth Library!

We've had a very busy and very successful summer at Halesworth Library! It's been lovely to see so many children and young people enjoying themselves in our library along with their families.

Over 50 children have succeeded in reading six books during the summer holidays, thus completing our annual Summer Reading Challenge. They will be presented with their winning certificates and medals at a magic show later in September.

Our summer holiday activities were fully booked, and the children enjoyed mini-monsters creepy-crawly road shows, a puppet workshop with author and illustrator James Mayhew, visits from Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Redwings Horse Sanctuary, as well as face-painting and a balloon-twisting workshop. We also held a series of creative workshops where nearly 60 young people enjoyed creating digital media, plaster casting and screen writing.

We joined in the 800 year market charter celebrations on September 2nd with some impressive Lego castles being built in the library and young and older customers enjoyed designing their own heraldry shields.

As the autumn approaches, we resume our programmes of regular events and (working alongside the Friends of Halesworth Library) we offer a wide range of activities: Events organised by the Friends of Halesworth Library: • Thursday Book Talk: September 28th at 7pm at the Library. Ian Anderson is a geologist who lived and

worked in the Far East for over 25 years. He has always had a strong interest in history and loves spicy food, hence his book, 'The history and natural history of spices'. Both comprehensive and entertaining, it is the story of how our passion for spices helped to change the world. Please contact the library for further details and to let us know if you'd like to come along. Free entry, but donations to the Friends of Halesworth Library are always welcome.

• Board Games Café: September 25th, from 2pm-4pm. There are lots of games to choose from, both old favourites and ones you may not have seen before! No previous skill required. Come along and enjoy tea and cake and a guaranteed fun afternoon. £1 suggested donation. No need to book, just turn up.

• Sociable Sundays: September 10th and 24th, from 10:30am12:30pm. Drop in to enjoy a hot drink, cake and a chat. A pleasant way to spend an hour or two and make new friends. £1 suggested donation. No need to book, just turn up.

Regular Library activities:

• Wordplay: Come along to our Wordplay sessions for babies, toddlers, parents, and carers on Tuesday mornings from 10am11:30am. Young and old can make new friends and enjoy music and games together.

• Family Fun: Are you looking for something to do with the children at the weekend? Look no further than our children's activities on Saturdays from 10am-4pm and Family Fun Time on Sundays from 11am12:30pm. All are welcome to

drop in for board games, craft activities and Lego.

• Knit & Natter, Craft & Chatter: For those looking to improve their knitting and crafting, we host a friendly and inclusive group for all who enjoy making and socialising.

The group meets upstairs at the library every first and third Tuesday afternoon. Our next get-togethers are on September 19th and October 3rd, from 2pm-4pm.

• Time Out: There's lots to enjoy at our Time Out sessions on Wednesday mornings, 10am-11:30am, and it's a good place to meet new people. Join us for crafts, chat, and free refreshments.

• Citizens Advice East Suffolk: Offering free drop-in advice sessions on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday mornings in the library office. The next sessions are on September 19th and October 3rd, from 10am-12pm. Come along and take advantage of their free advice and support during these difficult times.

• East Suffolk Council: Dropin for digital advice, Tuesdays 10am-4pm. Drop in for help with online Council services,

energy bills, benefit applications etc.

• Barclays Bank Drop-in: Weekly drop-in session from 9am-1pm and 2pm-4pm every Wednesday where they offer help with money management, financial help, business support and home loans.

The library has a range of active book groups, of which one of the Thursday evening groups is currently recruiting. Please ask at the library for further details. Further details of all our activities are available from the library or you can email: halesworth.library@ suffolklibraries.co.uk or call: 01986 875095. We look forward to seeing you!

• 100 Club: The Friends of Halesworth Library run a '100 Club' to raise funds for the library. Each number costs £1. So it's only £12 for the year! To join please ask for details at the library.

To join the Friends of Halesworth Library you will need to complete a membership form, which can be obtained by emailing: friendsofhalesworthlibrary@ gmail.com or by phoning the library.

Halesworth Museum

Mystery ring... Can you help?

A mysterious gold ring has just gone on display at Halesworth & District Museum.

It was found by metal detectorists in Linstead Magna. It is certainly gold, and it dates from the late Medieval or postMedieval period. It is relatively large for a finger ring, at almost 2.5cm across, and it is a little distorted, where two sides have been pushed together.

That, however, is where the certainty ends... Who owned this ring? How did it end up in the soil at Linstead Magna? And, most mysteriously of all, what is the meaning of the extensive inscriptions on both the outside and the inside of the ring? The text has been described as crude, and possibly an imitation of capitalised Roman script. No one (including the specialists at the British Museum) has any idea of what it says.

Curator Brian Howard explains why the ring is an

important acquisition for the Museum: "It's the first time we have had a treasure from the parish of Chediston and Linstead. And we are very excited about the mysterious inscriptions. If anyone has any ideas about the script or what it might mean, please get in touch."

The Museum has purchased the ring, at a cost of £400, but now needs to recoup that outlay. If you would like to help to support the acquisition of this intriguing ring, please donate to our Treasures Fund. You can send a cheque to the Museum (payable to Halesworth & District Museum, The Railway Station, Station Road, Halesworth, IP19 8BZ). Alternatively, you can make a

The last of the season at St. Peter's Church,

'Del & Jeremy & Stephen' are a popular fifties and sixties tribute band. October 14th sees the last of this seasons social events... An evening of vintage favourites from 7pm to 10pm at St. Peter's Church, Sibton, IP17 2NB.

Four views of the gold ring

bank transfer (Barclays Bank: Account name: Halesworth & District Museum, Sort Code: 20-16-12, Account number: 13489582). Use the reference 'LM Ring', so we know what the donation is for.

If we exceed the target, excess funds will be used for future treasure purchases, including at least one item from the same local area.

Sibton

The Weavers Tea Room and Peasenhall General Store priced at £10, also online at Eventbrite.uk.

Food will be by Cheryl's Suffolk Catering, also a licensed bar selling beers, soft drinks and wine, both for cash only. The evening is organized by the Friends of St. Peter's Church, Sibton.

Tickets are on sale from

National RAF Battle of Britain week

On September 16th, the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA), Beccles and Southwold area (Armed Forces charity) invites members of the public to visit the Wings Appeal stall outside Lloyds Bank in Exchange Square, Beccles from 9:30am to 4pm, where the local branch of RAFA will be offering RAFrelated gifts in exchange for a suitable donation. There will be free gifts for children under 10 years of age. Proceeds from our collection go to assisting RAF

Ensors Accountants LLP

veterans and their families who may be in need at this difficult time.

On September 17th at 2pm, the RAFA Beccles branch (joined by many service veterans with their standards, cadet forces and The RBL, all led by The City of Norwich Pipe Band) will be parading through Beccles to St. Michael's Church, for a remembrance service for those lost in the Battle of Britain in 1940. The salute this year will be taken by Air Vice-Marshal

Financial focus on...

VAT flat rate scheme

The flat rate scheme was introduced by HMRC as a method of simplification for small businesses and is often overlooked.

The underlying principles are to simply apply a fixed percentage to your total gross sales for the period and that becomes the amount payable to HMRC. The alternative standard approach requires businesses to identify the VAT amounts payable on each item of income during the quarter, along with the VAT on each item of expenditure, the difference between the sales VAT and purchase VAT being payable to HMRC. Where VAT is charged by your suppliers, it could be at the standard 20% or reduced 5%, and you don't have an automatic right to reclaim this.

In certain situations VAT recovery can be blocked or restricted. Use of the flat rate scheme removes this uncertainty.

Who can use the scheme?

The first consideration is HMRC's criteria; the scheme is aimed at small businesses, so your expected turnover in the

Concert by Saxophony to support new local nature reserve

'Martlesham Wilds' is the name of the latest exciting project being developed by Suffolk Wildlife Trust to support our natural environment. It will be a new nature reserve, nearly 300 acres of land alongside Martlesham Creek, which we hope will become a rich and diverse haven for all sorts of flora and fauna - songbirds and waders, otters and voles, butterflies and moths, wildflowers and much more.

Saxophony (a saxophone quartet of experienced local musicians) together with Suffolk Wildlife's volunteers, are putting on a free concert on October 8th

at 2:30pm at St. Mary's Church, Church Lane, Martlesham, IP12 4PQ.

The programme will include a rich variety of music from Mozart to the Beatles, Queen and Abba! The church is right next to the new reserve. Limited parking is available. However, we encourage walkers and cyclists. Donations will support Martlesham Wilds and St. Mary's Church.

Come along, enjoy a vibrant programme full of gusto and rhythm and discover more about this great new venture. We're sure you'll love it! For more information: www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Vacuums ancient and modern

Tales from the Repair Shed #4 Real life, not TV!

We are often confused with the Repair Shop on TV, which is flattering, but not always the case! Because we:

• Deal in everyday items, rather than heirlooms. For those heirlooms, we try to point people in the direction of local experts.

• Don't expect people to cry when they get their toaster/radio/ vacuum cleaner back.

• Can't afford to have that many spectacles on our heads!

But like the TV show, we do rely on the enthusiasm and experience of our repairers. So if you enjoy unusual challenges, we'd be delighted if you could join us. We hold regular repair sessions throughout the week (days and evenings) so that repairers can drop in at a time to suit them. Sessions are relaxed,

sociable and fun, particularly when the biscuits come out! More than that, the work we do helps prevent stuff being thrown away, so saving people money and a bit of the planet. As well as repair work, there are lots of ways you could get involved at times which suit you. For example, helping with bookkeeping or with the Martlesham Repair Hub. So please get in touch or come and visit.

For more information, visit: www.suffolkrepairshed.org, email: hello@suffolkrepairshed. org or you can find us on Facebook and Instagram.

Suffolk Repair Shed Ltd is a non-profit company established in June 2022. It started operations in October 2022 and is staffed entirely by local volunteers.

Inner Wheel Club of Woodbridge

Little Lifts supporting the lows of having breast cancer

the Hon. David Murray CVO OBE DL RAF (rtd)., who will also give The Eulogy and The Salutation "For The Fallen" at our service which commences at 3pm. All are welcome to witness the parade and attend the Church Service. There is no entry fee to the Church however, donations in any amount welcome. Thank you.

Further details can be obtained by emailing RAFA Branch Secretary on: lancaster457@btinternet.com.

An audience with Mark Murphy MBE

next 12 months must be below £150,000 to join the scheme.

After joining you can continue until your gross annual turnover exceeds £230,000. There are some exclusions including if you left the scheme in the last 12 months.

As the VAT payable under the scheme is calculated as a percentage of turnover, if your business is regularly in a refund position (for example some or all of your income doesn't attract VAT), the flat rate scheme would not be the right choice.

What percentage would apply?

If your business is classed as a Limited Cost Trader, a rate of 16.5% will apply. A limited cost trader is a business that spends less than either 2% of turnover or £1,000 a year on qualifying goods. Goods are moveable items or materials used exclusively in the business, including goods for resale (except where this isn't the main business activity), stationary, materials provided by a subcontractor, and gas and electricity used exclusively by the business.

For all other businesses, HMRC publish a list of rates determined by business type, for example 6.5% for pubs, 11% for agricultural services, 9% for packaging, and 9% for food manufacturing.

If you use the flat rate scheme within the first 12 months of VAT registration, you get a 1% discount on the published rates.

Finally, its important to remember that the flat rate percentage should be applied to your total VAT inclusive income for the period.

By Liz Lockwood (pictured), Manager, Ensors Accountants LLP

This information is given by way of general guidance only, and no action should be taken based solely on the information contained herein.

No liability is accepted by the firm for any actions taken without seeking appropriate professional advice.

BBC Radio Suffolk legend, Mark Murphy MBE, is helping to raise funds for a local community radio station in October, when he makes a rare appearance, telling the fascinating story of his incredible career.

The event is being held at Sizewell Sports and Social Club in Leiston, on October 27th at 7:30pm.

Mark, who left BBC Radio Suffolk in April, due to the cuts that will seriously effect BBC local broadcasting, did so after 33 years of successful and award winning broadcasting.

During his time at the station, he has presented the Breakfast Show for a total of 17 years, won Sony Radio awards, fronted several highly-successful campaigns and in 2021, was awarded a well deserved MBE.

He was involved in several campaigns, with his Don't be a Tosser campaign helping to raise the profile of the state of litter on the roads and the Treehouse Appeal, that led to the development of the Ipswich Children's Hospice, has always been his highlight.

Mark's tell-all evening will cover his Hospital Radio days and big break in joining Radio Suffolk in 1990, to winning awards, reporting on powerful local news stories, campaigning, and saying farewell to those 4am alarm calls! The talk will be followed by an opportunity for the audience to ask Mark questions.

In addition, the evening will also include a special appearance by hilarious Revd. Paul Pitt, who appeared on Mark's show every Sunday morning, for a humorous conversation about the week's events.

The event has been organised to raise funds towards Alde and Blyth Community Radio's new studios. The community station was launched in April 2021 as a weekend only service initially and is planning to extend into weekday evenings soon and eventually becoming a full seven-day service. For more information about the station and its programming schedule, please visit: www.abcradio.co.uk

Tickets for Mark's talk, priced at £10, are limited and available from the Sizewell Sports and Social Club on 01728 830025.

If someone you love should be unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with breast cancer, what a comfort to know that there could be a Little Lift on the way.

Right now, if you live in Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex or parts of Cambridgeshire, that lift will come in the form of a carefully hand-packed box of luxurious, quality and ethically-sourced products which have all been selected for a particular role in helping to make the effects of treatment a little more bearable both physically and emotionally.

Our September speaker, Oa Hackett, founder of Little Lifts, shared how her personal circumstances and experiences were the inspiration behind this amazing charity and how, in her words, something so devastating could be turned into something so incredible.

Along with Oa, Shopie Houghton-Hood (the charity's Volunteer Events & Community Manager) explained that different boxes are given depending on the treatment required and reminded us that each year, approximately 350 men are also diagnosed with breast cancer.

In thanking Oa for her inspirational talk, President Sharon expressed appreciation for the honest and humbling story of how Little Lifts came to be and was pleased that Woodbridge

Inner Wheel had supported this as her chosen charity for the 2023/2024 year.

International Officer, Daphne Rayment, advised that, as a club we would continue to collect many items such as ring pulls from drinks cans which are transported to Manila to be turned into jewellery, providing support for many along the way, old mobile phones, jigsaws, etc, and was pleased the Knit & Katter group would meet on Mondays to produce knitted blankets, hats and neck warmers for the seaman's mission. Members are also pleased to provide help to the Book Bus in Zambia, a charity that provides access to children who otherwise would never enjoy a story book.

President Sharon congratulated and made a presentation to longstanding member Mary Walker who has been a committed and active member of Inner Wheel for a remarkable 50 years.

Inner Wheel has three key objectives: to promote true friendship; to encourage the ideals of personal service and to foster international understanding. Any woman who shares the three central aims of Inner Wheel can join the organisation.

If you'd like to know more about Woodbridge Inner Wheel, please do look for us at District 8 on the website: www.innerwheel.co.uk

Over 30 years experience in the service, maintenance and repair of OIL FIRED DOMESTIC boilers. With an extensively stocked van and a comprehensive selection of spares, so most breakdown calls can be completed on the first visit. call

Leiston Film Theatre

The mysterious inscriptions

BEAT THE WINTER BLUES FROM NOVEMBER TO EASTER!

(EXCLUDES SCHOOL HOLIDAYS)

2 COURSES FOR £12 PER PERSON MONDAY TO FRIDAY 12PM-3PM

STARTERS*

- CHEF’S SOUP OF THE MOMENT

- GOATS CHEESE & RED ONION MARMALADE, CROSTINI WITH TOSSED GARDEN SALAD & BALSAMIC DRESSING

- CRISPY SMOKED HADDOCK FISHCAKE WITH TARTARE SAUCE & LEMON

MAINS*

- MOROCCAN LAMB CASSEROLE WITH PERSIAN COUSCOUS

- THAI BEEF, ALMOND & COCONUT MASSAMAN CURRY WITH STEAMED RICE

- CRISPY CHICKEN ESCALOPE WITH PASTA POMODORO, BASIL, MOZZARELLA & ROCKET

- PEA & GOATS CHEESE RISOTTO WITH BABY SPINACH & PARMESAN

- COD & SMOKED SALMON FISHCAKE WITH CREAMY SWEETCORN & FREE RANGE EGG

DESSERTS*